HELP

[borntohunt]

My dog had a small knot the size of my thumb on the right side of his face. I put a shock collar on him for I have some new dogs and did not know if he would be barking all night. I went out the next day and that knot is the the size of a baseball. He got into a porky pine in February. I think this is were it started. I took the shock collar off him, don't know if it was to tight or what. The knot is hard. Does not seem to be fluids. Any help would be Great. Thanks

[cord]

Some times those quills dont work there way out. Take him to a vet its just easier sometimes

[TomJr]

I would say vet if you can afford it... But all they will likely do is an Anti-biotic then either surgery or lance it after warm compresses.

If not keep a good watch on him. If he is eating well and his nose is cold and acting normally then it will likely resolve itself, but may lead to some scaring.

One thing that can help a lot with this sort of thing that you can do yourself if you have the time. Is apply warm compresses, to do any good you have apply them regularly every hour or so. Get hot water and dip a rag in and then hold it against the affected area massaging the lump while you do. This will bring the puss and junk up to the surface faster. Once it starts leaking you can lance it in that spot and keep using those warm/wet rags to keep it open and draining.

I had something similar a few months back from a Javalina bite that seemed to have healed but then the area swelled up, hard at first like you are describing. I remembered what my Vet had told me when another dog had this trouble... So I did the above but didn't bother with an Anti-biotic. It cleared up in about a week and the scaring will be covered with fur soon enough. Dog never seemed bothered by it... he treed a lion while it was still a bit swollen.

Sort of think anti-biotic are overused sometimes, both in pets and people. So I don't unless the dog is running a fever etc.

He is not wearing a collar because I was worried that if it swelled again it could cause trouble. If you look close you should be able to make out the bare patch where I shaved off his fur around the drainage point. I didn't take him hunting on purpose but had tried to lay him up while he was healing... dumb lion came past the orchard and Red went over a 6 foot fence, ran and treed the lion about a mile away solo.

[borntohunt]

Thanks a lot guys broke down and took him to the vet. Vet gave be a Anti-biotic Amoxi Clavalanate it worked like a charm got it back to thumb size again. The face is still a little swollen. But the vet said just what you did Tom. Warm compresses every couple of hours. I just got the dog and I was told he got in to it with a porky pine in February. Dogs a stud just don't want any thing to happen to it. Maybe we will see you out hunting some day Tom. I live in Peoria. Thanks again for all you guys help.